My Broken Drum in London by Isaac Anyanga Okang’o

From the skies, the place looks quiet. When the plane landed, I looked up and then I realised that I was in London. My ears were bombarded with a lot of sounds, at the same time my eyes couldn’t stop. Everything moved so fast, that my legs couldn’t stop walking. Sadly, when I was checking my djembe drum I found it had broken. I was so devastated and heartbroken. We had to go to Camden market to get a new drum.

Then we went to a good family’s house which is so breathtaking. In the morning I had a heavy breakfast, then Kenyan rugby boys were in town. I saw a naked man running in the stadium and for us being so nearer to the pitch where Kenya won. I felt so proud and so good.

On our way home I met this mzungu and he asked, ‘do you sell any weed?’

I said, ‘I thought you are the one who is selling it.’

He looked at me and said, ‘do I look like I sell drugs?’

I told him to take a good look at me then I told him I am not the one selling drugs.

I got this feeling that when you are in a white man’s country, you are always a suspect until proven innocent.

Africans just don’t realize it until they are up there.

Any way I got to meet Kenyans who live abroad. Some of them were very good to us and invited us to Nyamachoma and Tusker.

Finally, I reached a sad moment when I had to say good bye to London. Thanks to Muthoni and family and the rest of the Cut off my Tongue Cast.

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